hibbard



-(N0 Model.) Y I Sheets-Sheet 2.

TRAMWAY SWITCH.-

No. 569,199` 1 Patented 001;. 13,1996.`

(NoAModl.) 7 Sheets-Sheet `IS.-

M. W. HIBBA-RD.

TRAMWAY SWITCH.

No.. 569,199. '119961999900919 1896i.

7V Sheds-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

M. W. HIBB'ARD TRAMWAY SWITCH.

No. 569,199. Patented oct. 1s, 1899.

mlllllllllliliimmelm W. HIBBARD.

(No Model.) 'i sheets-sheet e.

TRAMWAY SWITCH.

Patented 001'.. 13., 1896.Vv

Tm: mams mins co., vnu-tourna. wAsnmGrou. u. c.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.A Y

IM. w, HIBBARD, TRAMWAY'SWITGH.

No. 569,199. lmentedl'0&9.V 1:3, 1896.#

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

MAURY W. HIBBARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE W. W. SPRAGUE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TRAMWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,199, dated October 13, 1896.

Application led July 22, 1895. Serial No. 556,711. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURY W. HIBBARD, of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tramway- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a switch for elevated-carrier systems, such as are commonly employed in slaughtering-houses. In systems of this kind it is necessary to provide for numerous branch tracks, and at the junction of these latter with the main track there must be provided a switch of some kind, so that the carrier may be sent over the main track or over the branch at will. Myinvention has to do with a switch of this character; and its object is to provide a switch of improved construction in which the main track and the switch have movable rail-sections arranged at the junction and connected to a common crank-shaft in such manner that by the rocking thereof one of the movable rail-sections will be placed in position to close a gap in the track while the other is removed.

My invention also comprises an actuatinglever for moving such rail-sections, and which is adapted also to serve as a stop or lock toA prevent carriers passing over the main track when the switch is in use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch, showing the main line in condition for use, the dotted lines indicating the position of the parts when the switch is in use. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the switch mechanism, showing the carrierwheel in edge view and the main track in section, the parts being in a position for using the branch track. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, part of the framework and the operating-levers being removed and some of the frame members showing in transverse section, two positions of the movable switch-rail sections being shown, as .in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation looking toward the main track from the side opposite the switch. Fig. la is a perspective view showing the main line in condition for use. Fig. 1b is asimilar view showing the switch in use and the main-line section removed. Fig. 2a is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the positions of the movable parts are reversed in the full and dotted lines from the corresponding positions shown in said Fig. 2.

In the drawings there is shown a suspendin g-bracket, which in top or plan view is sub'- stantially triangular in form, the outlines of which are indicated in Fig. 1, and the vertical members (marked 5 6 7) are shown in transverse section in Fig. 3. This frame is intended to be secured by its top plate 8 to a fixed support above the track, and its depending members 5, 6, and 7 are adapt-ed to ixedly support the rails adjacent to this switch, the brackets 5 and 7 supporting the main-track rails 9 and 10, respectively, and the bracket 6 supporting the branch rail 11.

12 represents a rocking crank or eccentric shaft, the journals 13 of which have bearings, respectively,in the lower ends of the members 6 and 7, the outlineof the member 7 being lclearly shown in Fig. 2. This crank-shaft has integrally formed therewith in the preferred construction the arms 14, which are parallel to each other and carry at their extremities the integrally-formed main-trackrail section 15,which has its axis in line with the journals of the crank-shaft.

The casting of the parts l2, 14, and 15 together is feasible, economical, and therefore preferred. Of course they may be separately formed and adequately secured together.

These parts constitute a swingingframe carrying one of the track-rail sections, which is rocked about the frame axis. The track-section 15 is of such length as to bridge the gap between the ymain-track rails 9 and 10 and is supported by feet or 'anges 16, depending from the brackets 5 and 7.

17 represents pitmen, which are journaled on the eccentric or crank portion of the shaft 12 and carry at their outerextremities the curved switch-track section 18. The pitmen 17 are preferably journaledupon the rock-I shaft 12 by the simple straps 19. The` end of the curved switch-rail, which is adapted to make junction with the main-trackfrail 10, has a sliding support on the support 16,forrne'd 4 with the bracket 7, while the opposite end ofl said curved switch-rail section'has a sliding bearingjon a'support 20, formed as a v'part' of IOOL the leg 6. The supports 16 and 2O have depressed portions 16 and 201L at their rear ends to permit the rail 1S to move down as its axis raises and lowers.

The means for rocking the crank-shaft and thereby moving the switch-rails will be best understood from Figs. 1 and 2. The operating-lever (marked 2l) has one end secured to a rock-shaft 22, j ournaled in bearings in the top plate 8. A hook-lever 23 has one end thereof secured to the rock-shaft 22 and projects over the switch-track, its extremity being provided with a hook 24s, adapted to engage and support the main-track section 15 when the latter is not in use. In some instances it may be found necessary to weight the hooked lever, and I have shown such a weight in Figs. 1a, 1b, and 2, and marked the same 23% A link 25 pivotally connects the hook-lever 23 with one of the arms 14, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3, the pivots being marked 26 27.

28 represents the carrier-wheel, and 29 its frame. This carrier is shown in Fig. 1 on the main-track rail 9.

The operation of the parts is as follows: Assuming the main-track section to be in place, as shown in Fig. 1, carriers may pass freely beneath the operating-arm 21 toward the point of the switch. After the carrier has passed the switch, if it be desired to run it back upon the branch track, the operatinglever 21 will be pulled down from the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown by the full lines in said figure. The result of this movement is to turn the rock-shaft 22, which will thereby raise the outer en d of the hook-lever and pull upwardly on the link 25, which,bein g connected to the arm 14, will cause the crank-shaft 12 to rock on its bearing, thus carrying the straight switch-section over into the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 2, the arc of its movement being indicated by the dotted line of said figure. Durin g this movement the arms 14 will be carried back, thus throwing the pivot 27 to the rear of the crank-shaft, the crank of the latter being projected forwardly and acting through the pitman 17 to thrust 'the movable section 18 from the position ing-frame serving as a hanger for the rails and bearings for the crank-shaft journals and supports for the movable sections, the ends of the rails may be supported by hangers or otherwise and the journals of the crank-shaft have bearings upon separate castings carried by the rails. I prefer, however, to provide the depending frame to support the ends of the track-rails and to adord j ournal-bearings for the crank-shaft, because all ofthe parts may thus be kept in accurate alinement.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the arrangement shown. The straight switch-section may be connected by the pitmen to the crank or eccentric and the curved sect-ion rigidly connected to the crank.

Obviously, also, the construction of the frame and the arrangement of the'parts will be modiiied to the various situations of a straight switch instead of a back switch, as .here

shown.

Without limiting my invention, therefore, to these precise details of construction and arrangement of parts, I claim- 1. A switch of the class described, comprising in combination with a main track having a gap therein, a branch track and movable rail-sections adapted to bridge the gaps and a crank or eccentric shaft to which one of said movable rails is rigidly and the other pivotally secured whereby when the shaft is rocked one of said sections is moved out of and the other into operative position, substantially as described. t

2. A switch of the class described, comprising in combination a main track and a branch and movable rail-sections adapted to bridge the gaps in the main track and between the main track and the branch, a rocking crank or eccentric shaft, one of said movable rail-sections being rigidly connected to the crank-shaft and having its axis in line with the journals thereof and the other beingr pivotally connected to the eccentric or-cranked portion of the shaft whereby when the shaft is rocked one of said sections is reciprocated and the other is swung, substantially as described.

3. In a switch of the class described, the combination with a main track and a branch, of a frame adapted to support the ends ofthe track-rail at the switch, a crank-shaft journaled in said frame a movable rail-section rigidly secured to the crank-shaft and a movable rail-section pivotally connected to the IIO cranked portion of said shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a switch of the class described, the

combination with the main track and branch rails, of a hanger for supporting the ends of said rails, a crank-shaft journaledin said hanger, a movable rail-section rigidly con-4 nected with said crank-shaft, a sliding railsection pivotally connected with the eccentric portion of said shaft and supports upon said hanger for said movable rail-sections, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the main and branch tracks, of a hanger for supporting the ends of said tracks, a crank-shaft journaled on the hanger, a rail-section rigidly connected with the -crank-shaft and a second rail-section pivotally connected with the eccentric portion thereof, an operating-lever and a link pivotally connecting said operating-lever and the crank-shaft whereby the latter may be rocked in its bearings to shift one of said rails into and the other outof position, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the main-track and branch-track rails, of a pivoted frame carrying a rail-section and a second rail-section connected to said frame eccentrically to its axis and means for rocking said frame Whereby one of said rails is caused to swing therewith and the other is caused to reciprocate, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the main track and branch, of a pivoted frame carrying a trackrail section, a rail-section eccentrically connected with said frame and adapted to be moved into and out of position by the swingsection pivotally connected to said frame eccentrically to its axis and an operating-lever connected with said frame and said lever being adapted When operated to project across the track into the path of a carrier, substantially as and for the purpose described.-

MAURY W. HIBBARD. Witnesses:

C. C. LINTHICUM, FREDERICK C. GOODWIN. 

